Four quickfire goals send Mallards to the points

Warrenpoint 1 Ballinamallard 5

After a fortnight lay off, the Mallards started this game sluggishly while the home side were bright and could consider themselves unfortunate not to go ahead in the opening exchanges.

The Ducks defence of Adam Armstrong, Brooklyn Williamson, Kyle Williamson and Odhran Mcgovern were proving difficult to break down but in the 18th minute the County Down boys were awarded a penalty which was impressively saved by Alex Mcclelland.

That seemed to be the wake up call the Blues needed as over the following 12 minutes they netted four goals to take a commanding lead and control of the game.

The opening goal came from an attack down the left side with the ball worked back to Mcgovern and while the home side stopped, believing they had a goal kick, the Irvinestown man didn’t hesitate and floated a wonderful cross for the arriving Corey Porter to powerfully head the ball into the ground and over the keeper.

For the second goal, Sean Corry was felled on the edge of the box and Dylan Donnelly’s free kick was partially cleared to Jamie Edwards on the edge of the area.

The midfielder’s first effort was well blocked but the ball fell back to him and he made no mistake this time with a fierce drive into the top corner.

Mcclelland then was to turn provider for the third as his quick thinking allowed him to pick out the run of Dan O’connor and he raced clear to slot in the bottom corner.

At this point Jonny Vennard and Dylan Donnelly were pulling the strings with some really nice, slick passing and the fourth arrived from a sublime through ball from the latter which sent Corry through to beat the keeper, marking his return from the Victory Shield with a goal.

The Mallards had another opportunity to add to the lead before half time; after a superb block from Armstrong he then picked out Edwards in the middle and his driving run and pass released Vennard but he fired narrowly wide.

The second half started similar to the first with the home side again pressing hard and they got their reward 10 minutes into the half when a free kick was played into the box and headed back across the face of goal with Armstrong unlucky to divert the ball past Mcclelland.

This gave the home side a lift and a change in shape for the Mallards along with the introduction of Harry Oliver, Braden Mccauley, Ryan Topping and Christian White gave the Ducks some stability as they reduced the ‘Point to efforts from long range.

The final goal of the game came when Mccauley played the ball down the line for Mcgovern who cut in and was felled in the box.

It was O’connor who stepped up to take and the Derrylin man calmly slotted home the penalty for his second of the game.